Have a very green Christmas: Easy steps for a more sustainable Christmas.

Wrapping. Why not use a pretty scarf and use it to wrap the rest of it? It’s a more thoughtful way to present your gifts. If this isn’t your style, you can reuse the paper from gifts you received last year. Something to keep in mind, so don’t go tearing open those presents! Our shops also have a supply of wrapping paper.

Tree. Real trees are climate friendly as they help the atmosphere when they are growing. Buy locally to reduce your carbon footprint even further. If you already have an artificial tree, pack it away to reuse it every year.

Volunteer decorating Christmas tree for window display

Tree. Real trees are climate friendly as they help the atmosphere when they are growing. Buy locally to reduce your carbon footprint even further. If you already have an artificial tree, pack it away to reuse it every year.

Clothes. Christmas is the busiest social season of the year. This means pressure to buy a separate new outfit for that dinner with the school friends, the work outing and the family gathering. Why not be strategic? Wear your outfits multiple times in different groups. Style a black dress with different colourful accessories or call into one of our shops for a unique second hand find.

Food. The “Gatherer” in us seems to activate at Christmas. In the days leading up, we seem to fill our houses with enough food to last a month. We all know that a lot of this food gets thrown away. Make a list of what you really need during the grocery shop and stick to it. You can also swap some options for Fairtrade alternatives, like the chocolate bars available in our shops.

Bite to Fight Chocolate Sourced by Oxfam — Bite to Fight Chocolate Fairtrade sourced by Oxfam

Food. The “Gatherer” in us seems to activate at Christmas. In the days leading up, we seem to fill our houses with enough food to last a month. We all know that a lot of this food gets thrown away. Make a list of what you really need during the grocery shop and stick to it. You can also swap some options for Fairtrade alternatives, like the chocolate bars available in our shops.

Transport. There is so much moving around, shopping, attending events and visiting during the holiday season. Consider leaving the car behind or maybe doing a section of your journey by public transport. The relaxing time on the train will also give you time to unwind!